scientology
Out of context: Reply #64
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- discipler0
*sigh... was hoping to not get into this yet again, but...
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"bullshit. just because someone long ago wrote it and claimed it was true, does not make a thing true. i can write a book wherein i claim to be god, make up whatever wacko shit i want, and then stir in a few current events to make it 'historically accurate' and it will still be bullshit. the bible is not an end-all argument to anything, it is not a historical record, it is not some god's creation, it is just a book; although the most popular work of fiction ever written."
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Here's a very brief overview that doesn't even begin to do justice to the reliability of the N.T...
The Bible is a historical document. If you subject it to the same tests and textual criticism that you subject other historical documents (documents which you accept without question) to, you’ll discover that the Bible proves itself to be far superior to any other ancient writing - of the New Testament alone, there are presently some 5,000 Greek manuscripts in existence, with as many as 25,000 more copies. Just as amazing is the fact that the earliest manuscripts can be dated back as far as 120 A.D. This is tremendous when you consider that only 7 of Plato’s manuscripts are in existence today — and there’s a 1,300-year gap which separates the earliest copy from the original writing! The New Testament has been virtually unaltered. This has been demonstrated by scholars who have compared the earliest written manuscripts with manuscripts written centuries later. And remember, the accounts in the New Testament were recorded directly by eyewitnesses.
You see, there are legitimate reasons why millions worldwide, including scholars, theologians, and scientists, believe that God has both inspired and preserved his word.
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"again, bullshit. the occurance of a man spontaneously coming back to life has never, ever, been 'historically verified'. the bible is not a verified historical record."
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As briefly demonstrated above, the Bible IS in fact a historical document. And more reliable than most documents that are accepted without question.
Of the variety of evidence we have available, none is more compelling than the fact that over five hundred individuals saw Jesus (1 Cor. 15:6) during a 40-day period following His death and burial (Acts 1:3). In fact, the Apostles appealed to Christ’s resurrection as proof for the truth of the gospel (Acts 17:18, 31). The historical evidence for the resurrection is so compelling that the famed Harvard law professor, Simon Greenleaf, concluded that any cross-examination of the eyewitness testimonies recorded in Scripture will result in “an undoubting conviction of their integrity, ability, and truth.”
And even as we consider alternative explanations about Christ's resurrection, reason drives us back to the conclusion that Christ rose from the dead - we know that the Romans had no intentions of stealing Christ’s body because the last thing they wanted was any turmoil that was sure to follow such an event. The Jewish religious leaders would also have no motive in stealing the body since that would only stir up the very movement they tried to crush. And certainly, the disciples could not have stolen the body; after all, would anyone really suffer and die for a cause that they knew to be a lie? They were terrified and scattered at this time. It is conceivable that someone may die for the truth, but inconceivable that hundred’s of his follower’s would, in fact, be willing to die for what they knew to be a lie. It's a historical event which divides and transforms to this day, my friend.
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"every religion accounts for and explains all these things. that's why religions formed in the first place. to explain natural phenomena. christianity in no way is the first and definitely not the only religion to do this."
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I meant that is successfully accounts for, not that it "attempts" to account for such metaphysical realities. Christianity is the only belief system that coherently explains and connects issues like the problem of evil, true self-sacrificing love and lasting contentment. World religions fail to provide sactisfactory and cohesive elucidation here.